Organizers have released a tentative schedule for Saline’s first Winterfest 2011: Pure Saline in the Snow festival later this month.

The festival on Jan. 29 will feature ice-carving, a snowman-building contest, children's activities and restaurant specials, among other events. The fun will start at 9 a.m. with an opening ceremony on South Ann Arbor Street downtown.

“The day is packed with free, fun events,” Art Trapp, Saline's downtown development diretor, said in a press release. “You can participate or ‘sit on the bench’. We really wanted activities available for every age group.”

He said there will be multiple warming stations, where visitors can grab a bite or a cup of hot chocolate. One of the highlights is a multi-city Snowman Making Champion of the Free World” Competition, during which the cities of Saline, St. Clair, Sault Ste. Marie and Zeeland will compete to see which city can build the most snowmen in a two-hour period.

Saline, Sault Ste. Marie and Zeeland will compete at the same time on Jan. 29, while St. Clair will build its snowmen the night before.

Trapp says there are still a few team slots open for Saline participants and interested builders can contact him at atrapp@cityofsaline.org.

He plans teams of five members.

Here’s a rundown of the day’s activities:

• 9 a.m. - Opening ceremony - South Ann Arbor Street
• 9:15 a.m. - Ice carving cemonstration - downtown
• 9:30 a.m. - 5-K race - downtown
• 10 a.m. - 212 Art display, snowmobile display - downtown.
• 10:30 a.m. - Children's crafts & games, autographs with “Roary,” the Detroit Lions' mascot - inside Chamber of Commerce offices.
• 11 a.m. - Dog sled demonstration - Henne Field
• 11:30 a.m. - Downtown restaurant specials - Mac’s Brecon Grille, Dan’s Tavern
• Noon - Ice dancing demonstration - Henne Field
• 12:30 p.m. - Pick-up volleyball game - downtown
• 1 p.m. - Snowman building championship - Henne Field

All Day: Warming stations - downtown Massachusetts Provincial Battalion re-enactments - downtown Hay wagon rides - between downtown and Henne Field Hot tea samplings - inside My Favorite Cafe The besaline website has a full run-down on all of the day’s activities. Lisa Allmendinger is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lisaallmendinger@annarbor.com. For more Saline stories, visit our Saline page.